Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Fighter build: Race, Fighting Style, background, more

Rajarshi Acharya
Fighter in Baldur's gate 3

The Fighter is the most popular melee build in Baldur’s Gate 3, and for good reason. It’s quite simple, there’s no wrong way to use it, and it’s vital for any balanced party composition. So if you want the best Fighter build for Baldur’s Gate 3, here are all the details you should know.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, a Fighter serves as the tank, taking on the most difficult enemies head-on. However, the subclasses of the Fighter are quite diverse. You could be a classic knight, a spellsword, or even a skilled tactician.

So, if you want to focus solely on combat in Baldur’s Gate 3, here’s the best Fighter build, including the race, Fighting Style, background, and more.

Best race for Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3

baldur's gate 3 custom character fighter
Fighters are a versatile class in Baldur’s Gate 3.

When choosing your Fighter’s race in Baldur’s Gate 3, you have three excellent options with great Racial Traits. These are listed below.

Half-Orc:

  • Savage Attacks: When you get a critical hit with a melee weapon, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice again and add it to the critical hit’s extra damage.
  • Menacing: You are proficient in Intimidation.
  • Darkvision: Can see in the dark up to 12m.
  • Relentless Endurance: When you get down to 0 HP but not killed, you can instead drop to 1 HP.

Asmodeus Tiefling:

  • Infernal Legacy: Gain access to Produce Flame, Hellish Rebuke, and Darkness spells.
  • Darkvision: Can see in the dark up to 12m.
  • Hellish Resistance: Take only half damage from Fire.

Githyanki:

  • Astral Knowledge: Gains advantage in skill checks of a chosen ability until long rest.
  • Martial Prodigy: Gains proficiency with Light and Medium armor, and with Shortsword, Longsword, and Greatsword.
  • Giyhyanki Psionics Mage’s Hand: Gains the Mage’s Hand Spell at level 1.
  • Giyhyanki Psionics Jump: Gains the Jump Spell at level 3.
  • Giyhyanki Psionics Misty Step: Gains the Misty Step Spell at level 5.

The ideal race would be Half-Orc, based on its Racial Traits like Savage Attacks which add extra damage on top of critical damage. But if you’re looking for a more versatile Fighter based on mobility, you should pick Gityanki as those extra spells are a great advantage to have in combat.

Your main priority would be to maximize your damage output while having the highest possible resilience. So, STR and CON should be your priorities.

Best Fighting Style for Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3

The best Fighting Style for a Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Protection. This means that you’ll be using a sword and shield for this build. When a creature within 5 feet of you attacks a target other than you, you can use your reaction to impose a disadvantage on the attack roll.

baldur's gate 3 worg in flames
Fighters in Baldur’s Gate 3 are combat-oriented characters.

Best background for Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers 13 different backgrounds for you to choose from, but the best one for a Fighter is the Soldier. This is a no-brainer choice for roleplaying, but the strength-based skills you gain from it are well worth it. The Soldier background in Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you proficiencies in Athletics (Strength) and Intimidation (Charisma).

You should also pick up the following skills after selecting your background. These are helpful for any character and for any build, regardless of race or class:

  • Acrobatics
  • Insight
  • Perception

Best build for Fighter in Baldur’s Gate 3

  • Race: Half-Orc
  • Background: Soldier
  • Skills: Acrobatics and Insight
  • Ability Score: STR: 16, DEX: 14, CON: 16, INT: 8, WIS: 10, CHA: 10.
LEVELFEATURE
1Fighting Style: Protection
3Subclass: Eldritch Knight — Cantrips: Blade Ward, Fire Bolt — Spells: Shield, Protection from Evil and Good, Find Familiar
4Feat: Magic Initiative: Cleric — Cantrips: Guidance, Produce Flame — Spells: Thunderwave, Shield of Faith
6Ability Improvement: Strength +2
7Spells: Darkness, Shatter
8Feat: Shield Master — Spell: Mirror Image
10Cantrip: Mage Hand — Spell: Gust of Wind
11Spell: Melf’s Acid Arrow
12Feat: Tough

That was all about the best Fighter build in Baldur’s Gate 3. Check out our other Baldur’s Gate 3 guides if you’re interested in the game:

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